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August 27, 2006 at 12:50 PM

Hope they can cope with all the money
25th-anniversary gala, drawing more than 1,200 people, hauls in more than $2 million for Jewish General Hospital cancer centre

JENNIFER CAMPBELL, Freelance
Published: Sunday, August 27, 2006

2,631,000 SHEILA-FEVER: If you're a socialnotie you know the column resumes mid-September to cover the fall mega-dos. So now you're wondering - why the surprise column?

Well Montreal, when an event of a certain largesse that generates an unprecedented $2,631,000 comes a-knocking, a vacationing social columnist has gotta do what a vacationing social columnist has gotta do: Toss the bikini into the bag, bid adieu to the Hamptons and whip back to Montreal to offer the best possible coverage of Hope and Cope's 25th-anniversary gala. Held recently at the Fairmont Queen Elizabeth Hotel in honour of founder/ chair Sheila Kussner (attending with amazing husband Marvyn), the 5 Ws on this one were good, REALLY good. Brace yourselves, partyphiles, for the society ride of a lifetime:

WHO: I do enjoy makin' ya sweat for the much-lusted after triple-A guest list - but seeing that I'm on "vacation" and feeling benevolent, why not jump right into the scene o' scenes? And this record-breaking 1,272-person crowd was something, brimming with business leaders, medical masters (more than 32 docs in the house) political powerhouses, famous philanthropists and packs of the pretty people:

Topping H&C's hi-smilin' hi-profiles were beaming Kussners, including daughters Janice and Joanne (with husband John Leopold and their children Justin and Carolyn); Joelle Berdugo Adler, principal benefactor of the Jewish General Hopsital's Hope and Cope Wellness Centre; beyond-dedicated gala co-chairs Joel King (with Marlene), Rosalind Goodman (with Morris) and Marvin Rosenbloom (with Jean Remmer); sponsors of the gorgeous handstitched butterfly hankies Odette Basmaji and Jacob head honcho Joey; their fabulously Fendi-Louboutin-clad daughter Cristelle Basmaji with Rabih Sebaaly; Mila Mulroney (staggeringly glam in signature Serge and Real) with hottie-escort, son Nicolas; magnificent Milly Lande; Abe Gold; a slew of Sheila-lovin' outtatowners including Israel's Sheila and Nahum Gelber and Faigie Zimmerman; Sally and Charles Bedzow; pretty print-cess Roni Gandell with E. Leo Kolber; Rhodie and David Cohen; vedette lawyer Cookie Lazarus with blonde mom-shell Jodi; Linda and Terry Smith; hot hotelier Steven Cummings; stunning Michele Dionne with quel premier fantastique Jean Charest; Lily and Alex Kotler; dinner co-chairs and master speech-givers Derek Drummond (with Anne) and Martin Levine (with Susan); Dianne and up2theminute fashion footwear boss Aldo Bensadoun; Alvin Segal and Leanor (swathed in the sleekest can-we-share? Chanel dress coat); Sandra and Phil Gutherz; proud president Joan Ungar; Stanley Cons with designer-dazzling Helen; and Renata and Michael Hornstein.

Also adding flavour to the festivities were Elaine and Calin Rovinescu; super Astralman Ian Greenberg with lovely-in-Armani Linda; Jeannette and Rene Valmont; sis-in-laws Lisa Singer-Miller (with Farrel) and Sheryl Miller Adessky (with Mark); enormously entertaining emcee Justin Trudeau, with celeb-spouse Sophie Gregoire (the sartorial ultimate in a cerulean Tufi Duek original); campus captains Universite de Montreal rector Luc Vinet and Concordia University rector Claude Lajeunesse; Hope and Cope past presidents Phyllis Waxman, Susan Polisuk, Jessica Miller and siren Brenda Blatt; Annick Balozian and Jean Picard; Alice and finance phenom Joel Raby; Sylvia and Lou Vogel; Maria and master-movie-man Vince Guzzo; debonair Morris Shiveck; reams of Reitmans; Audrey Best Bouchard (devastatingly sexy in a vintage sheath); Manya Stendel; Susan and property-pro Jonathan Wener; Rhoda and Irving Kott; Betty and gem of a hubby Lou Goldberg (who, on their 60th wedding anniversary, donated exclusive watches for the ladies' swag bags); Peggy and Buddy Greenberg; good pals 'n' partners Salvatore Guerrera (with Diane) and Nick Tedeschi (with Dale); sunny Sonny Gordon and Valentino runway-ripe Hanka; JGH top brass including James Alexander (with Lisa Blatt Alexander), Bernard Stotland (with Merle), Myer Bick (with Carole) and Henri Elbaz (with Sandy Bronet); World Anti-Doping Agency chair Dick Pound; Nina and Lyon Gould; sultans of culinary chic Sheila Schouela and Ruth Cohen; Jocelyne Hoolahan and Leonard Sanders; dynamite denimites Rosie and Sal Parasuco; Rachel and Chris Brown; Phyllis and Power Corporation powerhouse John Rae; Alice Pomerantz; glam-central Sandra and Leo Stroll; Barbara and Stan Plotnick; adbook uberchairs Connie Gelber (with Eleaizer) and Barbara Knobovitch (with Myer); Schreters a la Bobbie, Sandy and Joey; Valeria and Mike Rosenbloom (sponsors of the dramatically luxe Cancun dream-a-way); Heleena and Eddy Wiltzer; one 'n' only Father John Walsh; Sondra and Martin Schwartz; Christine and king-o'-the-power-suit Herschel Victor (who upped his donation at the event, skyrocketing the total); Mini and David "Butch" Granofsky; and Miriam and David Klein.

WHAT: Hmmm ... can we Donald "Trump" the above?! Of course we can, seeing that the impossibly posh summer do was tailor-made for just such merrymaking kings and queens! If fab food 'n' drink is your nirvana, then you would have loved the champagne cocktails (featuring Moet & Chandon Brut Imperial donated by Marjorie Bronfman) and chef Alain Pignard's gastronomic exuberance. If florals float your partyboat, then you would have been putty in Gilbert Lanouette's creative palms, awed by the English garden gorgeous centrepieces atop shimmering organza cloths, in every shade of butterfly beautiful. If you're an entertainment junkie, then Paul Chacra's masterful lineup would have stimulated you into delicious overdrive. Power performers included the Montreal Jubilation Gospel Choir; jazzmmaster Oliver Jones (who dueted dazzlingly with 12- year-old Nikki Yanofsky) and a spectacular ballet choreography that paid homage to Hope and Cope's official butterfly emblem (the winged motif was everywhere, even perched on serviettes thanks to design guru Errol Perrera). Finally, if you're a swag-lover, the goodie bags bulged with L'Oreal treats, Delmar delights and other funstuff.

WHEN: Tuesday, Aug. 22 .

WHERE: Told ya already (Have you been dipping into the Moet & Chandon?!)

WHY: To commemorate a miracle of a human named Sheila Kussner (otherwise referred to as "our own special K" by Derek Drummond), who 25 years ago translated personal challenges into a revolutionary volunteer-based organization called Hope and Cope. As explained by the many who toasted and feted her (including Lieutenant-Governor Lise Thibault, Charest, Celine Dion via a pre-recorded video message and greatest ally husband Marvyn), Sheila and her team built an invaluable international centre that, to date, has helped countless patients and loved ones cope with the devastating emotional, physical and social consequences of cancer diagnosis and treatment. All monies raised support existing programs and services as well as the Wellness Centre, opening this fall.

How to wrap up Hope and Cope's smashing 5 Ws? Simple. Just add one: WOW!

mtlsocialgal@yahoo.com

Social Notes returns Sept. 17